News
Eurozone interest rates unchanged
EUROPE - The European Central Bank (ECB) has left its key interest rate unchanged at 3.25%.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - European Central Bank, Monetary Policy Decisions, 7 February.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Presidency of the European Central Bank, 7 February 2002.
Bank of England - News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 7 February.
Eighteen months of agony for ECB hopeful Trichet
FEATURE - As Wim Duisenberg announces the date when he will step down Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet has 18 months to fulfil France's dream that he will take Duisenberg's seat as president of the European Central Bank, the most powerful…
UK aids Czech laundering fight
UK - Britain is advising the Czech Republic on drawing up anti-money-laundering legislation and improving its financial controls as part of a EU-funded programme to be launched in Prague today.
China accord on how to oversee banks
CHINA - China yesterday, Wednesday, put to rest months of divisive debate on whether a separate supervisory body should be set up to oversee its banking system, deciding that a new bureau within the existing central bank would be sufficient to do the job…
BoE most transparent G7 central bank - economists
UK - The Bank of England is the most transparent central bank among the world's leading economies, according to a new ranking devised by two European economists.
Swedish Riksbank to publish intervention details
SWEDEN - Sweden's Riksbank, proclaiming greater openness than other central banks, said on Wednesday it will publish regular details of any currency intervention in future, formalising a practice introduced last summer.
Latvia parlt vote on cbank deputy head seen 14 Feb
LATVIA - A Latvian parliament commission said on Wednesday it approved financier Andris Ruselis as the candidate for the post of the central bank deputy president, with the parliament vote seen on 14 February.
Govt not mulling asking BOJ for further easing now
JAPAN - The government isn't considering asking the Bank of Japan to take additional monetary easing measures, top government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
Argentina delays floating peso
ARGENTINA - The Argentine Government has extended the closure of banks and foreign exchange centres for another two days, suspending plans to fully float the peso.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - ECB recognises partners' valuable contribution to the smooth introduction of the euro banknotes and coins 5 February.
Foreign banks play down euro importance to City
UK - Foreign banks operating in London believe that the City's success does not depend on the euro.
Banker calls for Asian free trade area
UK - The economies of south-east and east Asia should intensify efforts to build a regional free trade area to reduce their dependence on information technology exports to the US, according to Tadao Chino, president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Japan ready to intervene in markets
JAPAN - Japan's government said yesterday it was prepared to take "decisive action" to prevent a further fall in the stock market after the Nikkei 225 benchmark index closed at an 18-year low.
FSA steps up split caps probe
UK - The city watchdog has stepped up its investigation into split caps, with the announcement that it has started swooping on investment firms involved in the controversial trusts.
BoE's George hints at reluctance to raise rates
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, hinted last night that he does not support a rapid rise in interest rates.
Swedish c bank gov stands by Dec inflation outlook
SWEDEN - Swedish inflation, currently running well in excess of three percent, looks set to slow to levels around the central bank's two percent target, central bank, or Riksbank, Governor Urban Backstrom said on Saturday.
Greenspan urges better financial knowledge
US - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Tuesday that consumers needed to increase their financial knowledge to cope with an increasingly sophisticated marketplace.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand News Release
NEWS RELEASE - The Reserve Bank today rejected the suggestion, made by ACT leader Richard Prebble, that the registration of Kiwibank involved any special treatment, 4 February.
Egypt calls for aid
EGYPT - Egypt is to ask international donors for financial support of $2.5bn to help it plug the gap in the country's accounts.
Japan shares hit 18-year low
JAPAN - Japan's shares have slumped to a new 18-year low.
Afghanistan's accounting nightmare
FEATURE - Deep in the vaults of Afghanistan's central bank is what looks like a mountain of money - bundles of notes piled as high as a man fill a small room.